Austria is seeking Petter Northug

Originally published in Yle on January 16, 2025

Petter Northug, a giant in the world of cross-country skiing, may soon be seen competing in the colors of Austria. The two-time Olympic champion and 13-time world champion has indicated he is aiming to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Northug, now 39 years old and previously focused on a career as a TV commentator, has expressed his desire to obtain citizenship from another country, given the strong competition in Norway makes it difficult for him to break back into top-level events.

He has floated the idea of representing both Liechtenstein and Austria, with recent confirmations from the Austrian Ski Federation expressing interest in partnering with him to facilitate this transition. Markus Aichner, the communication director for the Austrian Ski Federation, confirmed discussions are ongoing with the Norwegian Ski Federation regarding this matter.

Northug achieved an impressive 8th place in the men's 10K during the Norwegian Championships but fell short in a sprint contest soon after, placing 43rd in the qualifiers.